You are speaking of Rod McKuen's "Seasons in the Sun," his adaptation of a Jacques Brel song. (I think it was better in French.) As sung by the Canadian Terry Jacks, it sold 11.5 million copies.

And where did Terry Jacks get the song? From the Kingston Trio!

Adieu, Emile, my trusted friend,
We've known each other since we were nine or ten.
Together we climbed hills and trees,
Learned of love and A B Cs,
Skinned our hearts and skinned our knees.
Adieu, Emile, it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky. Now
That the spring is in the air
Pretty girls are ev'rywhere.
Think of me and I'll be there.

CHORUS: We had joy. We had sun.
We had seasons in the sun,
But the hills we would climb
Were just seasons out of time.

Adieu, Papa, please pray for me.
I was the black sheep of the family.
You tried to teach me right from wrong.
Too much wine and too much song,
Wonder how we got along.
Adieu, Papa, it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky.
Now that the spring is in the air
Little children ev'rywhere.
When you see them, I'll be there.

Chorus

Adieu, Francoise, my trusted wife,
Without you, I'd have had a lonely life.
You cheated lots of times but then,
I forgave you in the end
Though your lover was my friend.
Adieu, Francoise, it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky.
Now that spring is in the air
With your lovers ev'rywhere;
Just be careful, I'll be there.

All our lives we had fun.
We had seasons in the sun,
But the hills we would climb
Were just season out of time.

Adieu, Emile. Adieu, Papa. Adieu, Francoise.

All our lives, we had fun.
We had seasons in the sun,
But the hills that we climbed
Were just seasons out of time.
All our lives, we had fun.
We had seasons in the sun,
But the stars we could reach
Were just starfish on the beach.